Shirley Ann Howe passed away on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Cookeville, at the age of 93. Shirley was born on November 3, 1930, in Wyandotte, Michigan to Charles M. Fite and Lillian (Baker) Fite. Shirley married the late Ramon “Ray” D. Howe on August 18, 1950, and by 1961 their family had grown to include five children. Shirley was mostly a work-at-home mom, raising their children and taking care of their home. When the family lived on a farm in Imlay City, Michigan, she milked the cows by hand, pasteurized the milk and made butter with an old churn. Shirley was also involved in the veterinary care and birthing of their many farm animals, sometimes helping the local vet at other nearby farms. Ray and Shirley purchased a flower and gift shop in Linden. Shirley ran the store, making all the flower and funeral arrangements herself, and taught her children how to arrange flowers so they could help with the family business.

Following Ray’s retirement from carpentry in Michigan in 1996, the couple moved to Hohenwald, in 2000. From 2000 to 2017, they were active members of the Pineview Church of Christ and made many long-time friends there. Each year they wintered in Astor, Florida to enjoy fishing and visits with family and friends who also wintered there.

In 2017, they moved from Hohenwald to be near three of their daughters and lived in the home of their daughter, the late Deborah “Debi” Christiansen and her husband Gary, of Baxter. Ray and Shirley were married for 68 years when Ray preceded her in death in November 2018. Their daughter Deborah “Debi” Christiansen preceded Shirley in death in March 2024.

Shirley moved to Mabry Healthcare, Gainesboro, in 2022, making friends with nurses and staff who had come to love her. She loved feeding and watching her birds and hummingbirds outside her picture window and her orchids and other potted flowers. Being proud of her family – from her 5 children to her 13 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren, she displayed pictures of all of them on her room walls.

Shirley crocheted for many years, making afghans as gifts for her children and grandchildren. At the age of 90 she was still crocheting, and donated 100 hand-made newborn caps to the hospital in Cookeville. She was a devoted wife and loving mother to her children who dearly loved her, as well as a faithful Christian who continued to look for ways to serve others.

Loved ones remaining are daughters, Jerri Gilmer (Rick) of Eustis, Florida, Karen Neilson (Andy) of Cookeville and Robin Crawford (Tom) of Baxter; son: Larry Howe of Saline, Michigan; son-in-law, Gary Christiansen of Baxter; sister: Nancy (Fite) Reaume of Hilliard, Ohio; grandchildren and great-grandchildren across the U.S.

Visitation will be held at 12 noon on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at the Pineview Church of Christ and continue until the time of the funeral service at 1 p.m. Brother Bobby Carroll will officiate at the service. Burial will follow in the Loveless Cemetery.

McDonald Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.